"The Twenty Seventh City" by Jonathan Franzen

"The Twenty Seventh City" is Jonathan Franzen’s first book, but his debut is exceptional. Had I read this book back in the late eighty when it was first released, I’d followed Franzen’s career more closely. Not many twenty-something year-olds can write with such clarity, stamina and talent.

The story takes place in Franzen’s home city of St. Louis. It follows the devious raise and fall of an American-born female with an Indian descent (we are talking Bombay Indian), desperate to win the elections for unification of the County and City. Of course, Franzen introduces numerous other characters and masterfully examines not only their relationships, but their complex internal natures, emotions, aspirations and needs.

This is a book that replaces TV, internet and radio as a sort of entertainment. You’ll get home from work, school, whatever, and would want to grab it and loose yourself in it. You’ll go to bed with it and wake up with it. It’s well thought, entertaining and intricate. I highly recommend it.

-by Simon Cleveland